Hundreds Missing As Migrant Boat Sinks Off Libya

April 19, 2015 11:45 AM

3
0

This is WEEKEND EDITION from NPR News. I'm Rachel Martin. There's a major rescue operation under way today in the Mediterranean Sea between Italy and Libya. That's where a boat carrying as many as 700 migrants capsized this morning. It's one of the worst disasters in what has become a migrant crisis in Europe. Today, Pope Francis appealed to the international community to take action to prevent future tragedies. He told thousands gathered in St. Peter's Square, quote, "they are men and women like us, our brothers and sisters seeking a better life."

For more on this, we've called Adrian Edwards from the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Geneva, Switzerland. Mr. Edwards, can give us any more information on the ongoing rescue operation? What's the latest?